Drunk driver in Greenpoint, NYC. A139 Pro

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aldusj99

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I also posted on A139 Pro forum, but just reposting here as it might be appropriate. Drunk driver crashing. I've sent the video to the driver of the parked car.
Also, what could be the reason the video is so grainy? Just wondering if I need to replace my dashcam.

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Hi, I haven't reviewed the video in a while and I witnessed a minor accident and I downloaded the video to my Macbook pro, and the video is grainy. Is the dashcam sensor damaged, or something else? I should be recording at 4K 2160P / 1600P 30fps

Here's the video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VMOA4JBOHTU9YO0soVkSDr7KbVy0u0EE/view?usp=sharing

I've played the video both from VideoLAN and QuickTime Player, and the video quality is the same, grainy.

I've had this dashcam for like 4 years, and I am wondering if it's damaged from the summer heat.
 
aldusj99 said:
I also posted on A139 Pro forum, but just reposting here as it might be appropriate. Drunk driver crashing. I've sent the video to the driver of the parked car.
Also, what could be the reason the video is so grainy? Just wondering if I need to replace my dashcam.

___
Hi, I haven't reviewed the video in a while and I witnessed a minor accident and I downloaded the video to my Macbook pro, and the video is grainy. Is the dashcam sensor damaged, or something else? I should be recording at 4K 2160P / 1600P 30fps

Here's the video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VMOA4JBOHTU9YO0soVkSDr7KbVy0u0EE/view?usp=sharing

I've played the video both from VideoLAN and QuickTime Player, and the video quality is the same, grainy.

I've had this dashcam for like 4 years, and I am wondering if it's damaged from the summer heat.
Click to expand...

I presume you've cleaned the lens? My guess is the coating is worn off on the lens after years of exposure to heat.
 
It looks more like a digital/electronic issue than physical like dirt.

I think first step would be to format card and factory reset.

I believe it is permanent heat damage on the sensor but cannot be sure.
 
What do people do with the dashcams if you have to park the car outside during hot summer days?

Do you remove it from the windshield every time you park? Seems like a pain to do that every time you have to street park.
 
I leave it in. I've never had it damaged by heat. I just assumed heat damage, really it could be any cause. It could even be a loose cable inside.
 
Daum i have not seen something like that before, i will guestimate it is a sensor issue though.

Denmark not super hot / cold country, but i always leave cameras in the car, and are not aware of any brand that advise to remove them in extreme hot / cold.
I have heard of Alaskans that had systems locked up in winter until the car heated up a little, unsure if this is a issue if repeated often over winter / winters

There have been issues if you used parking guard in the old days, but now with modern systems if they get too hot they will just shout down to protect them self.
So even in a active case in a hot place, heat should not be a problem, i would assume even in regular recording conditions the camera would do the same.

Personally i always assumed a dashcam should last 4 years at least, after 4 years modern systems are probably a lot better and for that reason you might want to update, if not carry on.
The memory card should be the weak spot, but what you got here is not memory related i am sure.

PPL in TX had no problem leaving systems in car, in the old days it could be a issue due to sup par lens / lens mount, and so the focus would shift and you have drunk vision recordings.
But in general at least with decent brands this have not been a issue for years, can still happen though but no longer the rule just off chance.

As mentioned, i flaky ribbon cable to the lens module inside the camera might be it, the question is if you are brave / skilled enough to take a look.

This is ribbon cable, how they look in general and how they mound / release, pretty strait forward, these have been known to come loose or never been installed properly from factory.

 
aldusj99 said:
What do people do with the dashcams if you have to park the car outside during hot summer days?

Do you remove it from the windshield every time you park? Seems like a pain to do that every time you have to street park.
Click to expand...

Hell, my A139 Pro's lasted about 2 or so years each. They run 24/7 in low bitrate and are used often. 4 Years is at their shelf life.....Heat and usage wear out electronics. If you look at the lens, is the coating worn off? If not there's internal damage. This is a hardware failure otherwise.

Time to replace.
 
I only t hink it is lens problem if he used a steel brush or sand paper to clean it
 
aldusj99 said:
What do people do with the dashcams if you have to park the car outside during hot summer days?

Do you remove it from the windshield every time you park? Seems like a pain to do that every time you have to street park.
Click to expand...
I leave mine in - no problems with my SGGCX2Pro since first installed in 2018. Car has sat in direct sun, on an asphalt parking lot, with temps over 90 degrees for 8-10 hours with no issues.

Edit: Keep in mind that experience will be different between manufacturers. SG cameras were developed by an Australian company with their summers in mind and are more tolerant of heat than other brands. I've had cameras (not SG) in my wife's car that couldn't handle 2 or 3 hours in direct sunlight.
 
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Looks like more of a component problem. The straightness of the vertical lines and the way the color shifts suggest this is more of an electronic/CMOS issue. If the videos look OK in the morning, but after an hour of driving, they look like this, it may be heat-related. The heatsink thermal paste/pad may be crap and overheating has taken it toll. It could be that ribbon cables at either end of the CMOS board have surface corrosion. Other failed components, hard to say.

On my Mac Studio, in QT, image copied, imported into Acorn, resized, and saved..it looks like this:

a339.webp
 
thats also what i see lufa
 
@aldusj99

You may be able to contact @VIOFO-Support for a refurbished A139Pro. These are no longer produced. Alternatively, I would suggest the A329T if upgrading for the telescopic lens, although Vantrue does make good cameras too. The A329T is overly sensitive, and locks videos too often in my opinion, but the quality is phenomenal. Vantrue S1 Pro Max and N4 Pro S are worthwhile competitors, too.
 
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